Wellness Promotion | Today at 黑料不打烊 | 黑料不打烊 /u/news Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:03:29 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Turning strategy into service: Inside 黑料不打烊鈥檚 digital marketing consulting course /u/news/2026/01/23/turning-strategy-into-service-inside-elons-digital-marketing-consulting-course/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:56:44 +0000 /u/news/?p=1037437 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Digital Marketing course is making significant strides in combining classroom learning with real-world impact and experience.

Smaraki Mohanty, Doherty Emerging Professor of Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of marketing, teaches the course to immerse students in a client-facing consulting experience that pairs academic theory with meaningful community engagement. Most digital marketing courses deal heavily with case studies; however, with the course structure, students collaborate directly with local businesses and organizations throughout the entire semester. The course is designed to strengthen students鈥 understanding of digital marketing fundamentals, including website usability, search engine optimization (SEO), social media strategy, and customer engagement, while requiring them to apply these concepts in professional, real-world contexts.

鈥淐ommunity partnerships are a core component of the Digital Marketing course and are integrated through a semester-long, client-based consulting project,鈥 Mohanty explained. 鈥淚t begins with students being placed into small consulting teams, which are paired with a local organization. This allows them to analyze each partner鈥檚 digital presence and develop data-driven marketing recommendations to help promote their organizations to the community.鈥

This semester, the community partners included Empirical Wellness Center, Upside Aerial Arts & Fitness, Odessa鈥檚 Pots and Prayers, Haand, 64 Harvard, and Fjord, Inc. Through these local partnerships, students engaged directly with business owners and managers, tailoring their work to each organization鈥檚 goals and resources.

Students gained increased confidence in applying SEO strategy, understanding keyword relevance and adapting best practices to fit unique client contexts.

鈥淭his experience relates directly to my goals after 黑料不打烊, because with my marketing major and communications minor, I hope to specialize in social media marketing and digital work,” said Skylar Zimmerly ’26. “Being able to make these changes for Upside Aerial as a company, and watch their target audience, engagement and online presence all grow significantly due to my efforts, not only prepares me for working with other clients in the future but also prepares me with the confidence to know I’m capable of succeeding in my field.鈥

For community partners, the course provides access to research-backed digital marketing insights that many small businesses and organizations may not have access to. These recommendations have the potential to increase website traffic, improve discoverability and support long-term business growth.

鈥淯pside Aerial was missing out on an entire audience to connect with on a new platform,” said Zimmerly on working with Upside Aerial on making a TikTok account. “Soon after creating their account and sharing their story/videos, we saw a large change in engagement. Additionally, as a marketing major, it was most insightful for me to gain hands-on experience with an actual client, mimicking what the future could look like in my career. With this, the client being a Burlington local just goes above and beyond my 黑料不打烊 experience, allowing a positive relationship to grow between the community we’re surrounded with. 鈥

Through its community-engaged approach, the Digital Marketing course demonstrates how academic learning can create tangible benefits for both students and the local community. This course aids in the creation of future professionals while supporting the businesses that help make Alamance County thrive.

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黑料不打烊 employees walk twice the circumference of Earth during walking challenge /u/news/2025/12/16/elon-employees-walk-twice-the-circumference-of-earth-during-walking-challenge/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:31:14 +0000 /u/news/?p=1035563 During the 黑料不打烊’s 2025 fall walking challenge, 276 employees documented an astounding聽51,042 miles聽walked 鈥 over twice the length of Earth鈥檚 circumference! Of those who walked, 147 employees completed the 200-mile-walk challenge, which qualified聽them for the grand prize.

For the past 12 years, the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic聽has聽organized聽a challenge聽for聽黑料不打烊 employees each fall to walk a聽set distance聽of miles to build community, have fun and win prizes. A spring challenge was recently added. Each challenge is themed and, in聽fall聽2025, the theme was, 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go Racing 黑料不打烊 200,鈥 inspired by NASCAR.

Belinda has medium-length brownish-blond hair and glasses with a pink shirt
Belinda Day

The challenges are organized by Belinda Day, wellness coordinator for the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic. She loves聽coming up with聽new themes for the challenges and being creative with the prizes.

鈥淚 do the Fall and Spring聽walking聽challenge because it keeps me moving, keeps me accountable and reminds me to take time for myself聽amidst聽the hustle and bustle of daily life,” she said.

Day added that the challenge聽provides聽employees聽an easy way聽to聽practice wellness,聽both聽mentally and physically.聽She coordinates with leadership to schedule the challenges and to ensure the events are aligned with overall wellness goals to foster a more active and engaged work environment while fostering team collaboration and reducing stress.

鈥淚 put on the聽spring and聽fall聽walking聽challenge to give our employees a simple, fun and accessible way to support their health, reduce stress聽and stay connected as a team.”

-Belinda Day,聽wellness coordinator for the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic

In spring 2025, the walking challenge theme was 鈥淕rand Slam Tennis,鈥 which saw a similar number of walkers聽participating聽in聽teams. This year, 118 teams out of the 151 who entered completed 180 cumulative miles. An聽additional聽71 teams finished the challenge with each team reporting a minimum of 360 miles walked.

鈥淚t’s a fun and simple way for everyone to step away from their screens and connect with each other,鈥 said Day.聽鈥淧lus, I love seeing how these programs not only improve physical health but also build a sense of community in the workplace.鈥

A new walking challenge will be announced during the spring semester.

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Megan DeMarco 鈥26 honored by North Carolina Campus Engagement for service to campus and community /u/news/2025/11/14/megan-demarco-26-honored-by-north-carolina-campus-engagement-for-service-to-campus-and-community/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:56:14 +0000 /u/news/?p=1033460 Megan DeMarco 鈥26 was awarded the North Carolina Campus Engagement Community Impact Student Award, which honors one student leader at each participating member school. The award recognizes students with a deep commitment to community involvement, an outstanding ability to inspire peers and evidence of sustainable impact. The organization honored the recipients during the 2025 Citizenship, Service, Networking and Partnerships (CSNAP) Student Conference at NC A&T State University.

DeMarco, a human service studies major, started her engagement at 黑料不打烊 as a member of the Service Living and Learning Community. She continued to deepen her involvement as a Service Living and Learning Community coordinator and a leader of an alternative break experience to Asheville.

She has been involved in the Campus Kitchen program for several years now, initially as a farm shift coordinator, and now serves as director. DeMarco has been able to strengthen volunteer retention, along with an increased capability of harvesting more produce Loy Farm to help serve those experiencing food insecurity in Alamance County. She is also an advocate for service as the service chair for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

鈥淢egan has an unbridled passion for service that is infectious to all those who participate with her,” said Abby Wiatrek, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “Her leadership style has a natural way of showing the humanity and humility needed when participating in service that makes others feel comfortable to ask questions to learn more about why the service that we are doing is important to our community.鈥

North Carolina Campus Engagement is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. The organization fosters connections between campuses, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.

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Can better design make nature more inclusive? This 黑料不打烊 alumna thinks so /u/news/2025/09/03/can-better-design-make-nature-more-inclusive-this-elon-alumna-thinks-so/ Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:44:10 +0000 /u/news/?p=1026287 Mandi-TR-Portrait.jpg
Mandi Jaffe 鈥25

An 黑料不打烊 alumna has published research that bridges two distinct disciplines鈥攙isual design and outdoor education.

Mandi Jaffe 鈥24, who graduated with a degree in communication design and outdoor leadership, co-authored 鈥淢apping the Outdoors: Evaluating Vision Accessibility Through Print Trail Map Design鈥 with Evan Small, assistant teaching professor of wellness. Their article appears in the “Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership,” a leading publication in outdoor experiential education.

The article stems from Jaffe鈥檚 undergraduate research project, which began during her coursework in Communications. As she explored design principles, she became increasingly interested in how those concepts could support accessibility in outdoor spaces.

鈥淏eing able to combine my interest in outdoor leadership education and communication design allowed for a unique topic and perspective on the research,鈥 Jaffe said. 鈥淐ombining these fields allowed me to make a greater impact on a research question that hasn鈥檛 been asked before.鈥

Jaffe identified a gap in the literature regarding visual accessibility in printed trail maps. In response, she developed an assessment rubric to evaluate seven trail maps based on font size, color contrast, paper quality and overall design. Her goal was to understand how design choices affect usability for individuals with visual impairments.

鈥淭his research allowed me to grow academically by learning more about the research process,鈥 Jaffe said. 鈥淗aving Evan as a mentor was a huge asset. He gave me the opportunity to learn more about academic writing and how I can contribute to the industry.鈥

Jaffe currently works as an instructor with the North Carolina Outward Bound School. She credits her undergraduate experience, and this research in particular, with shaping her professional path.

鈥淢y OLE courses and this research allowed me to become more aware of accessibility practices and adapt to help make the outdoors an accessible and comfortable space for all,鈥 she said.

Her journey reflects 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning, faculty mentorship and preparing students to lead with purpose across disciplines.

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In My Words: The world is full of mirrors: What values do we want to reflect? /u/news/2025/03/27/in-my-words-the-world-is-full-of-mirrors-what-values-do-we-want-to-reflect/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:33:17 +0000 /u/news/?p=1010617 I have a friend whose bathroom mirror has affirmations on it. As I wash my hands, I enjoy looking into the mirror and reading, 鈥淵ou are beautiful鈥 and 鈥淵ou are loved.鈥 I see myself in the mirror, and I remember that I am loved.

My experience reading the news these days is the opposite of looking at my friend鈥檚 mirror. I struggle to find a sense of hope, joy, and beauty. I see the world moving further away from caring for the most vulnerable of society 鈥 the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan. I do not see myself or my values reflected in the new world order that is forming.

This week鈥檚 Torah portion, , reminds me of my friend鈥檚 mirror. Buried within a detailed record of every item donated to construct the Mishkan and the high priest鈥檚 clothing is a description of a reflective plate on the high priest鈥檚 diadem (). The plate was made of the purest gold and had incised upon it, 鈥淗oly to Adonai.鈥

The Zohar says that this gold plate was actually a mirror that reflected the character of anyone who looked at it. Rather than seeing the gold plate as an ancient Near-Eastern fashion item, the Zohar recognizes that the plate does not just label the high priest as holy. Instead, everyone who sees themselves reflected in the plate also sees that they are holy.

Mirrors have long been an important metaphor in Jewish mystical traditions. Earliest traditions may go all the way back to : God speaks to most prophets in dreams, riddles, and 产补尘尘补谤鈥檃丑 鈥 this could be translated as either in a vision or in a mirror (cf. ). However, God speaks with Moses mouth-to-mouth (directly) and 产补尘尘补谤鈥檈丑, which means clearly or in a clear vision.

Jewish tradition holds that everyone except Moses sees the world in a distorted, incomplete fashion 鈥 through a mirror. We all have our own biases, filters, and preconceived notions of the world. We also perceive others as distorted reflections of ourselves, a phenomenon we now call psychological projection.

One of the main goals of Jewish mysticism is to polish our mirror. Through prayer, contemplation, and introspection (), we can come to perceive reality more clearly.

Like my friend鈥檚 affirmation mirror, adds a wrinkle to how we might understand the metaphor of mirrors. The mirror-plate does not just reflect our character, but it also adds the written affirmation that we are holy. This affirmation corrects any potential distortion an onlooker may have had about their worthiness 鈥 they, too, are holy to God.

Nowadays, the construction of our sacred communities looks different than in Biblical times. For starters, rabbis do not go around wearing reflective gold plates on their heads. However, rabbis and lay leaders alike are still constructing communities in which all who participate can see themselves as holy, valuable, and belonging.

For many of us, it can be challenging to see ourselves reflected in the news today. If a person only determines their self-worth by the media they consume, they will have a distorted sense of self. When societies do not care for the vulnerable or let everyone know that they have inherent worth as human beings, it becomes even more important that communities of faith do so.

It is upon us to build and strengthen communities that reflect our values. We must find ways to continue to affirm to each other and to reassure the vulnerable: 鈥淵ou are loved鈥 and 鈥淵ou are holy.鈥

Views expressed in this column are the author鈥檚 own and not necessarily those of 黑料不打烊. The original article appears in聽.

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黑料不打烊 receives $500,000 grant from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust for HealthEU Center /u/news/2025/01/30/elon-university-receives-500000-grant-from-the-william-r-kenan-jr-charitable-trust/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:42:57 +0000 /u/news/?p=1005949
A rendering of the courtyard and main entrance of 黑料不打烊’s new HealthEU Center.

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust has continued its generous support of 黑料不打烊 with a $500,000 grant to the university鈥檚 new HealthEU Center that will also create scholarships in the Nursing Fellows program.

黑料不打烊 has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed nearly $16 million to the project that will bring academic, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs together under one roof to support student well-being and serve faculty and staff. Scheduled to open in summer 2026, the center will be located within 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

鈥淲e are honored to partner with President Connie Ledoux Book and university staff on this grant that will broaden the legacy of the grants in healthcare and nursing,鈥 said Nancy J. Cable, executive director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust. 鈥淲e see 黑料不打烊 as an innovative and visionary institution and one that focuses on academic excellence and student well-being.鈥

The HealthEU Center is a central component of the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story facility will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research and engagement spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide space for individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the HealthEU Center will impact all students as they learn essential skills and practices to thrive on campus and throughout each stage of their lives.

Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing, works on skill-building with students.

The grant will also establish William R. Kenan, Jr. Nursing Fellows scholarships in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Health Sciences. The Nursing Fellows program is a selective merit-based program for academically talented students who are committed to pursuing careers in nursing and healthcare. Fellows spend four years working closely with faculty mentors exploring the many opportunities in the field of nursing and identifying ways to address health disparities in local and global communities and promote quality healthcare for all.

鈥淥ne of the highest priorities for our trustees is to make grants to support healthcare workforce development in all four of the states we support, including North Carolina, Virginia, New York and Florida,鈥 Cable said. 鈥淭o be able to do that at 黑料不打烊 so close to the Trust headquarters is a special honor.鈥

The Kenan Trust has been a committed donor to 黑料不打烊. In 2002, a $1.2 million grant endowed the William R. Kenan, Jr. Honors Fellows Scholarship that provides a four-year, full-tuition grant for the top Honors Fellow enrolling each fall. Kenan Honors Fellows also receive extensive enrichment opportunities, including leadership development, service-learning experiences, study abroad, research stipends and internships. The grant also named the William R. Kenan, Jr. Honors Pavilion in the Lambert Academic Village.

In addition, a $300,000 grant in 2015 helped launch 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Kenan Community Impact Fellows program to address essential needs in the community, including literacy readiness for preschoolers and their families. The program builds upon the success of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥 literacy project that pairs 黑料不打烊 students and faculty with students in the Alamance-Burlington School System.

鈥淲e are sincerely grateful for the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust鈥檚 continued partnership and this significant investment in two of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top philanthropic priorities,鈥 said Brian Feeley 鈥03, assistant vice president for university advancement. 鈥淐ollaboration has always been at the heart of the Trust鈥檚 grantmaking, ensuring their generous support is both strategically aligned and effective.鈥

About the Trust

A North Carolina native, William R. Kenan, Jr. graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in chemistry and was a chemist and industrialist with wide-ranging business interests. Upon his death in 1965, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust was created to further his strong interest in education.

The mission of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, a New York perpetual trust based in Chapel Hill, is to empower human potential through education and whole community investment. The Trust鈥檚 grantmaking is generally centered in the four states of Florida, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. To learn more about the Kenan Trust, visit聽.

HealthEU: Make An Impact

Many naming opportunities are available in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over a period of five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

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Tyson family makes $3 million gift to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 new HealthEU Center /u/news/2024/04/22/tyson-family-makes-3-million-gift-to-elons-new-healtheu-center/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:36:13 +0000 /u/news/?p=979071 Inspired by 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to the holistic health and well-being of all students, faculty and staff, alumni Mark 鈥98 and Kim Tyson 鈥99, of Monroe, North Carolina, have made a $3 million gift to name the Counseling Services Center in the new HealthEU Center. The HealthEU facility will be located within the university鈥檚 Innovation Quad and is scheduled to open in summer 2026.

The Tysons were impressed by how the new facility aligns with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission to educate the mind, body and spirit of every student and prepare them with the skills to thrive on campus and beyond.

鈥淜im and I hope our gift will be a resource in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 toolbox to bring the new HealthEU Center to life,鈥 Mark Tyson said. 鈥淭his center is an expansion of what we fell in love with and experienced at 黑料不打烊. 黑料不打烊 is not just an institution focused on academics. 黑料不打烊 is trying to encompass everything about students, including who they are and how they live healthy lives.鈥

鈥淭hat philosophy was one of the reasons I chose 黑料不打烊,鈥 Kim Tyson said. 鈥淚 felt like 黑料不打烊 looked at me as a whole person and not just what my transcript said.鈥

黑料不打烊 has set a $25 million fundraising goal to help make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed more than $6.5 million to the project, which will bring academic, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs together under one roof to support student success.

鈥淲e are actively engaged in a fundraising campaign to support the HealthEU Center in partnership with inspired donors who believe in the vision for the center and are committed to ensuring students have the skills they need to lead lives of meaning and purpose,鈥 said James B. Piatt Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs.

A rendering of the courtyard and main entrance of 黑料不打烊’s new HealthEU Center.

The new center is an essential component of the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework and workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the HealthEU Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices to thrive on campus and throughout each stage of their lives. The Tysons are proud that their alma mater recognizes that health and wellness must be at the core of the student experience.

鈥淭he education you receive in terms of academic learning is very important,鈥 Mark said. 鈥淵ou also have to be able to communicate with people, manage your time and have financial literacy, among other skills. So many folks get thrust into the world and don鈥檛 have the skill set to manage themselves. This center is going to make a big difference by providing those building blocks. It鈥檚 exciting to see.鈥

Anita Hodnett, director of counseling services, thanked the couple for their generosity.

鈥淲e are grateful to the Tyson family for their incredibly generous gift and for choosing to support Counseling Services,鈥 Hodnett said. 鈥淲e look forward to using this new space to continue to do great work, not only in providing treatment for students, but also through training and outreach efforts to promote awareness and help-seeking behaviors, which are so important in reducing mental health stigma. This tremendous opportunity will allow us to better serve our students.鈥

The Tysons鈥 gift will also establish scholarships in the university鈥檚 Odyssey, 黑料不打烊 Engagement, Teaching Fellows and Business Fellows programs. Kim earned her degree in elementary education and special education from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and is a math interventionist at Union Academy Charter School in Union County. Mark earned a business degree from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and serves as chief financial officer of The Tyson Group Companies, a residential and commercial real estate and development company.

鈥淥ur 黑料不打烊 experience is such a large part of who we are today that we feel we should help 黑料不打烊鈥檚 leadership with their vision for the future,鈥 Mark said. 鈥淚t fills us with such profound satisfaction to know that there are students who will benefit from our part in this initiative.鈥

Make An Impact

Many naming opportunities are available in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over a period of five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

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Two students take Campus Recreation and Wellness ‘beyond the oaks’ /u/news/2023/10/31/two-students-take-campus-recreation-and-wellness-beyond-the-oaks/ Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:23:05 +0000 /u/news/?p=961846 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus is filled with driven students who are continually seeking opportunities to pursue their education further. At 黑料不打烊 Campus Recreation and Wellness, it is no different.

Allen Fleming ’24 is the current team leader of the personal training team and has been a part of the RecWell community since his sophomore year. Growing up, Fleming found himself enveloped in the world of cross country and quickly made up his mind to continue his path of fitness into college.

Through this passion and dedication, he sought to continue his path of fitness by becoming a personal trainer, specializing in cardio and resistance training. Through his time spent at RecWell, Fleming found interest in training himself as well as others. Last April, Fleming set a goal to compete in a powerlifting competition in the fall. This fall, Fleming reached his goal and received first place in the under 90 kilos, ages 20-23 division at the competition.

Fleming prepares for the lift. (Photos by The Chaos Lab Media).

The interest in competing at a powerlifting competition sparked Fleming last November, and he began training for the event in April 2023.

Fleming spent 20 weeks preparing for the competition and went into it with the mindset of gaining experience and trying something new.
Once competition day arrived, Fleming recalls the environment as being 鈥渙ne of the most positive atmospheres I have ever been in.”

Fleming added, “I think it鈥檚 an interesting component of fitness-based sports because everyone is competing with each other, but they are also competing against their own standard at the same time.鈥

Admittedly, he walked into the event nervous, and credits Victoria Hagen, his friend and RecWell personal training coworker, for keeping him grounded in the loud and intense atmosphere of a powerlifting competition.

Fleming prepares for his third lift. (Photos by The Chaos Lab Media).

Fleming鈥檚 nerves quickly dissolved into adrenaline-filled enjoyment after his first lift. Fleming ended the competition placing first in his division. He credits RecWell with creating a positive work environment, which allowed him to carry that mindset into his experience at the powerlifting competition.

Fleming is currently on the accelerated track in the physical therapy program here at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淭he combination of my academics feeding into my job, feeding into my hobby has given me a wealth of knowledge that I can also pair with firsthand experience,鈥 he said.

Fleming will continue to train and pursue this newfound passion of his and plans to compete again in the future.

Josie McWhorter ’24 has been involved with RecWell and intramural sports since her sophomore year and has since earned the role of team leader. At the beginning of this year, McWhorter visited the University of Georgia where she participated in a regional officiating workshop for flag football.

The fast paced, two-day workshop was filled with classes and hands-on experience on refereeing for flag football. As one of seven female participants in her class of 35, McWhorter honed skills that have not only helped her on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 fields but also in leading the rest of the intramural sports team here at RecWell.

McWhorter at the end of the workshop with one of her trainers.

As a part of intramural sports, refereeing was not new to McWhorter, yet the training program sharpened her skills and knowledge so that she was able to come back to 黑料不打烊 and train her staff. McWhorter viewed the officiating workshop as an opportunity to show her team here at 黑料不打烊 that it is okay to be in uncomfortable situations. 鈥淚 wanted to show up and show out for my staff.鈥

McWhorter credits her experience refereeing flag football at 黑料不打烊 and her time with RecWell with her ability to communicate with both players and fans effectively while developing the confidence to do so.

After the workshop, McWhorter carries the knowledge that she learned not only into her own refereeing endeavors but also with her staff at RecWell.

“While refereeing, you hear things that you should not, and you should not have to put up with it either. This year, we have been better at holding ourselves and each other accountable. We have been able to enjoy our jobs more,” she said.

McWhorter referees a flag football scrimmage at the workshop.

McWhorter continues her referee training and plays on the women鈥檚 club rugby team. She notes that she has found that her cross-training has not only made her a more skilled referee but also has given her a deeper understanding of being a more mindful player on the field. 鈥淭he confidence that I鈥檝e gotten from refereeing as well as the confidence I鈥檝e gotten from playing helps to make me better.鈥

McWhorter is currently on track to graduate in the spring with a degree in exercise science, and a plan to be a physical therapist for spinal cord injury patients and amputees.

鈥淢y interest wasn鈥檛 born out of my being athletic, however, my academics and my education inform one another 鈥 like a cycle,” she said.

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黑料不打烊 Club Ice Hockey makes playoffs for the first time in team history /u/news/2023/04/12/elon-club-ice-hockey-makes-playoffs-for-the-first-time-in-team-history/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:32:06 +0000 /u/news/?p=945292 At one of his first 黑料不打烊 Club Hockey games, Mason Esworthy 鈥25 distinctly remembers wondering if the team would succeed. One year later, the 黑料不打烊 Club Ice Hockey Team has made its mark in the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League after an impressive season.

Going into the 2022-2023 season, Esworthy, the current vice president and assistant captain of the team, was unsure if the team was set up for success. He and Eagan Callahan 鈥23, the club president at the time, took matters into their own hands last summer, scheduling practices and games and hiring a new head coach.

Despite beginning the season with a losing streak, resulting in the team being placed last, the entire season turned around after Winter Break. In the 2023 portion of the regular season, the team was undefeated, which secured them the final spot in the playoffs, a feat the club had never accomplished.

黑料不打烊 Club Ice Hockey before a game. (Photo credit to Maggie Connolly.)

In their first playoff game, 黑料不打烊 Club Hockey, the eight seed, played against St. Joseph鈥檚, the number one seed in the tournament. The game had an incredible turnout, with more than 200 黑料不打烊 students, staff, faculty, and community members in attendance to cheer on the Phoenix.

鈥淧layoffs were way more way more exciting than the regular season. The energy was there; the atmosphere was different. We felt like we had something to play for,” Esworthy said.

Although the odds were against them, the 黑料不打烊 team played a fantastic game, pulling out a 3-2 win. Simply making the playoffs was an unlikely achievement for this year鈥檚 team, and the upset of St. Joseph鈥檚 was the biggest win in the club鈥檚 history.

Their season has since concluded with a loss in the second round, but the team is already preparing for next year. Club members constantly recruit new players that contribute to the team鈥檚 sense of community. Team members come from different backgrounds, have varying experience levels, study across many departments, and are involved in various Greek and non-Greek organizations on campus. Esworthy is the incoming team president and captain and has high hopes for the upcoming season.

If you are interested in joining the team, please get in touch with Mason Esworthy at聽jesworthy@elon.edu

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Intramural sports provide fun and healthy outlet to athletes and officials alike /u/news/2023/03/10/intramural-sports-opportunities-provide-a-fun-and-healthy-outlet-to-participants-and-employees-alike/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:29:59 +0000 /u/news/?p=942380 Staying healthy and physically active is a goal for most college students but one that can often be put on the back burner when classes, exams and extracurricular activities pick up. Intramural sports are among the many opportunities to be active on campus.

Action shot of two students playing intramural pickleball.With intramural sports, students can play recreational sports with their peers, roommates, greek organizations or even strangers. Campus Recreation &聽Wellness offers 20 different sports on the intramural level, which consists of individual, dual and team sport leagues as well as one-day tournaments. Students sign up together and play against other teams at 黑料不打烊.

Aside from allowing students to be active and have fun with friends, intramural sports have positively contributed to campus life at 黑料不打烊. Participants and student employees feel part of a community through their involvement in intramural sports.

鈥淚 love working for intramurals because I can be a part of a place that fosters community and healthy competition between students,鈥 said Noah Levine 鈥23, intramural sports official.

Forming their own teams allows students to make the entire experience their own. Regardless of whether students have played the sport before, they are welcome to join an intramural team.

Many students reconnect with sports from their pasts through intramurals, as it is a low-stakes way to get involved without the time commitment of club sports.

After taking a break from volleyball during high school, Katie Piller 鈥23 began playing again through intramural sports, participating in indoor 6s volleyball and 4s sand volleyball.

鈥淚t was great becoming closer friends with my sisters who played on the Intramural team, and I loved that other members came to games and cheered us on,鈥 Piller said.

Intramural sports foster teamwork and communication both on the field and behind the scenes. The officials聽who make intramural sports possible are quite a close-knit team of their own.

Action shot of Jordan Otten '24 referring a soccer match.鈥淚ntramurals have brought me a lot of new friendships that I know I can rely on. It鈥檚 a really safe space, and we always have a lot of fun. I love spending time working with Intramural Sports but also having the ability to be social! It truly has changed my 黑料不打烊 Experience,鈥 said Hunter Salzberg 鈥24, intramural sports official.

Registration for Intramural Block 4 opens on Monday, March 20. Sign up on IMLeagues until March 30, and follow along with the schedule to show the teams some support.

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